Portable discoid exercise equipment using rotation weights

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to exercise equipment, which is used during exercising in a small space, e.g., stretching before sports activities or finishing-up exercises after sports. It relates to portable discoid exercise equipment, which uses rotation weights to allow exercises by way of lightly swinging one or two hands. The portable discoid exercise equipment using rotation weights according to the present invention comprises a body of hollow discoid; a support axis fixed to the center of said body; and two or more of rotation means comprising respectively a rotation weight, rotating around the rim of the body along with the rotator, which is fixed to the end of the arm extending from the end of the rotator fixed to the support axis for rotation toward the rim of the body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to exercise equipment, which isused during exercising in a small space, e.g., stretching before sportsactivities or finishing-up exercises after sports. It relates toportable discoid exercise equipment, which uses rotation weights toallow exercises using the rhythm of movement of the rotation weights,wherein said exercising involves rotation by using one or two hands,shoulder, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] To help dieting or simply to keep fit many a person exercises,especially doing the aerobics, moving all his or her muscles in variousways, in the hope of maintaining a normal heartbeat.

[0003] Aerobic exercises convert quite a high percentage of fats intoenergy and are good for keeping ideal functions of the heart and lung.They help combustion of fats and stimulate the basic metabolism of aperson to increase disposal of fats through brisk movement of muscles,heightening good effects thereby on dieting and resulting in maintenanceof good health.

[0004] For aerobic exercises people formerly have had to be content onlywith gymnastic exercises with no particular equipment in a small spaceor just with light movement of the limbs or turning necks or waists,while seated, while before or after exercises they have had recoursemerely to light stretching or finish-up to ease off the rigidity of bodyfor prevention of accidents which might accompany the more vigorousexercises.

[0005] However, such simple exercises with no equipment in a small spaceare apt to be tedious, and people are not easily led to continue longenough to achieve the purposes. Meanwhile, the stretching or simplefinish-up exercises have no particular established methods but peopleare left to swing, turn, or otherwise move the limbs and the other partsof their bodies, resulting in failure to secure sufficient relief of thebodily rigidity or tension.

[0006] To overcome all such problems as have been described above thereare of course quite a few equipment of a variety are proffered and areactually on the market, but most of them are not sufficiently portable,their uses quite limited, making people easily tired of them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An objective of the present invention is truly to solve all theseproblems and overcome the drawbacks by providing an easily portablediscoid exercise equipment using one or more rotation weights, whichallows people freely to exercise all parts of their bodies by the use ofboth arms even in a small space.

[0008] Another objective is to provide an easily portable exerciseequipment comprising one or more rotation weights, which admits ofvarious ways of use, whereby exercises are not rendered tedious evenwhen it is used for a long time.

[0009] Still another objective is to provide an easily portable exerciseequipment comprising one or two rotation weights, which allows personsto do the simple preparatory or finish-up exercises by stretching themuscles of their hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, chests, abdomens,waists, etc., to the rhythm of its rotation weights, even while they areseated in their seats.

[0010] To attain all these purposes the easily portable exerciseequipment comprising one or more rotation weights, the presentinvention, is characterized in that it comprises a streamlined, hollow,discoid body; a support axis fixed in the center of said body; and twoor more rotation means, each formed in a combination of a stretching armwhich extends from an end of a rotator fixed rotatably on said supportaxis towards the rim of the body and has a rotation weight formed on itsouter end, said arm being to rotate round along the rim of said discoidbody.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a rough sketch of the general cross-sectional view of apreferable embodiment example of the portable discoid exercise equipmentusing a rotation weight, of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a preferable example ofthe present invention.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a rough sketch of the enlarged vertical sectional viewof a preferable example.

[0014] FIG. 4 roughly shows Example 1 of the rotation weight.

[0015] FIG. 5 roughly shows Example 2 of the rotation weight.

[0016] FIG. 6 roughly shows Example 3 of the rotation weight.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 6.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a rough sketch of the general cross-sectional view ofanother preferable embodiment example of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment example of the present invention,wherein it is designed to be easy to grip with both hands and in astreamlined fashion to look good.

[0020] FIG. 10 is an enlargement in the rough of a preferable means fordeceleration of the rotation.

[0021] FIG. 11 roughly shows a preferable example of the hand protectorsin the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 12 roughly shows another example of the rotation weight.

[0023] FIG. 13 roughly shows an example of the magnetic body attractingthe rotation weight towards the inside of the rim of the body of thepresent invention.

[0024] FIG. 14 a general cross-sectional view of the present invention,showing a preferable example of the protuberances, which slightly rubagainst the rotation weight when the latter rotates inside the rim ofthe body.

[0025] FIG. 15 is a rough general cross-sectional view of a ballrevolving inside the rotation weight.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Below, the easily portable exercise equipment making use of oneor more rotation weights, of the present invention, is described indetail, making reference to the attached drawings.

[0027] A preferable embodiment example of the easily portable exerciseequipment 1 of the present invention consists of, as is shown in FIGS. 1and 2, a discoid hollow body 2, a support axis 3 fixed in the center ofsaid body 2, and a rotation means 4, rotatably fixed to said supportaxis 3.

[0028] As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the discoid body 2, with saidsupport axis 3 fixed in the center, has many protuberances 22 along itsrim 21, intended to give effects of therapeutic finger-pressuretreatment on the palm when said rim 21 is held with a hand.

[0029] The body 2 can be held with one hand anywhere on said rim 21, butwhen two handles 21 a are formed along said rim 21, as is shown in FIG.9, each symmetrically on opposite sides, said body 2 can be held withboth hands, one each by one of said two handle 21 a. As are seen in FIG.9, the handles can be made to have curves to fit in a user's fingerswhen he holds them with both hands.

[0030] The rotation means 4, rotatably fixed to said support axis 3 inthe center of said body 2, whose rim has said acupressure protrusion s22 for holding with hands, rotatably fixes rotators 41 on said supportaxis 3, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0031] Between said rotator 41 and said support axis 3 bearings B areformed, so that the friction of the rotation means 4 and said supportaxis 3 against each other can be lessened as much as possible to securea smooth rotation of said rotator 41 on said support axis 3.

[0032] On the free end of said rotator 41 rotatably fixed on saidsupport axis 3 via said bearing B, is formed an arm 42 to extend to saidrim 21 of said body 2, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0033] On the outer end of said arm 42 is formed a rotation weight 43 ofa certain weight, and the rotation weight 43 rotates together with saidarm 42 and said rotator 41 along said rim 21 of said body 2, becausesaid rotation weight 43 is connected with said arm 42, and said arm 42,in turn, is connected with said rotator 41.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the arm 42 extending from said rotator 41 canbe made in various shapes according to those of said body, as, forinstance, seen in FIG. 9, where said body 2 is streamlined and so issaid arm 42 formed in a fit corresponding shape.

[0035] The arm 42 can be so made to have an auxiliary weight 43 a formedon it away from the rotation weight 43, as shown in FIG. 4, that therotation of said rotation weight 43 can be kept smooth, while a balanceweight 43 b can be formed on the opposite end of said arm 42, extendingon the converse side to secure a well balanced rotation of said rotationweight 43, as is seen in FIG. 5.

[0036] Also as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is possible to separate saidarm 42 in two parts, one to be rotatably fastened to said rotator 41 andthe other having said rotation weight at its far end, and both rotatablyjoined together by a hinge 42 a, so that when said rotator 41 rotates,the part of said arm 42 extending outward from said hinge 42 a mayperform its own rotation upon said hinge 42 a.

[0037] In this case it is preferable, however, that the part of said arm42 having said rotation weight 43 at its end be made shorter than theother part, that is, rotatably fixed on said rotator 41, so that whenthe former part rotates upon said hinge 42 a it may not run into anyother part of the device.

[0038] It is preferable, as shown in FIG. 3, to have two or more suchrotation means 4, consisting of said rotator 41 rotatably fixed on saidsupport axis 3, the arm 42, and said rotation weight 43, but in such acase it is required that one or two spacers 6 be fastened on saidsupport axis 3 and between said rotators 41 so that said rotators 41 canbe kept at an established distance from each other.

[0039] The rotation weights 43 in the case that there are more than twoof them, are each to have, as shown in FIG. 12, a magnetic body 45placed inside, and these magnetic bodies 45 are each to be either of thesame or different polarity to attract or repel each other so that saidrotation weights 43 can be made to move in the same direction or crosseach other in rotation.

[0040] Also, as shown in FIG. 13, it is possible to fix a secondmagnetic body 25 or bodies on a part or parts of said rim 21 of saidbody 2 so that it or they can either attract or repel said firstmagnetic body 45 or bodies.

[0041] On said rim 21 of said body 2 are formed hand protectors 23 ofsoft rubber or the like so that hands are well protected from undueinjury when said rim 21 is held with hands, and, moreover, the handprotectors are also to have acupressure protrusion s formed similarly tothose 22 along said rim 21, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0042] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, a number of suspension protrusion s 24are so formed along the inside of said rim 21 of said body 2 that thenails of said suspension protrusion s 24 softly touch said rotationweight(s) 43 in order that the user may sense their touch while usingthe equipment.

[0043] FIG. 15 shows another embodiment example of the presentinvention, in which a ball 44 is placed inside said rotation weight 43and so said ball 44 rotates inside, when said rotation weight 43 rotateson said support axis 3.

[0044] As seen in FIG. 10, decelerating means 5 are formed on one sideof said rotation means 4 rotatably fixed on said support axis 3 todecelerate the rotation speed of said rotator 41.

[0045] The decelerating means 5 form covers 51 to be fixed, as seen inFIG. 10, to said body 2 in the direction of said support axis 3; saidcovers 51, in turn, have elastic members 52 formed toward said supportaxis 3 to come into contact with it via a presser 53; and according tothe degree of the pressure of said presser 53 applied to said rotator 41the rotation speed of the latter can be decreased, or otherwiseadjusted.

[0046] The pressers 53 each have a roller 53 a in the shape of a ballformed on the forward end, as seen in FIG. 10, which ball-like roller 53a, rolling in close contact with said rotator 41, applies pressure tosaid rotator 41.

[0047] The exercise equipment of the present invention, constructed asdescribed above, is held with a hand of both hands by said rim 21 ofsaid body 2 or by said handle[s] 21 a, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 9, or 8, tohave its body 2 swung or flourished up and down or left and right.

[0048] The acupressure protrusion s, shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 formed atthe spot where said rim 21 is held or on said handle[s] automaticallygive a sort of chiropractic treatment to the palms of hands throughoutthe time the equipment is held with the hand for an exercise.

[0049] Because there are hand protectors 23 of rubber or similar softmaterial formed on the parts where the equipment 1 is held with a handor hands, little fatigue results even if the equipment 1 is held for aconsiderable length of time.

[0050] When a user holds said body 2 where said acupressure protrusion s22 are and swing or flourish said body 2 up and down or left and right,the rotator 4 of said rotation means 4 rotatably fixed on said supportaxis 3 smoothly rotates as said body 2 shakes, because it is fixedeasily to rotate by virtue of said bearing B, and said rotator 41rotates all the more easily because even of the sheer weight of saidrotation weight 43 which is placed on the outer end of said arm 42extending from said rotator 41 toward said rim 21.

[0051] The rotation weight 43 connected with said rotator 41 of saidrotation means 43 via said arm 42 continues rotating by the centrifugalforce once it starts rotation, and, as shown in FIG. 15, it rotates allthe better because of said ball 44 placed inside said rotation weight43, the shake of said ball 44 being tactually perceived by the user.

[0052] The rotation weight 43 is not limited to one in number, but twoor more of them 43 can be fitted, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one placedat a given interval from another via a spacer 6, and for this reasonthey can be rotated in the same direction or made to cross paths.

[0053] Because the two or more rotation weights 43 on the two or morerotation means 4 each have a magnetic body, as shown in FIG. 12, theycan rotate all the more easily on said support axis 3 thanks to theattracting or repelling force of said magnetic bodies of differentpolarity placed inside; while said second magnetic bodies 25 formed ofmagnetic material or metal reacting to magnetism and fixed on the insideof said rim 21 of said body 2 help the rotation of said rotation weights43 the better.

[0054] Over the rotation weight 43 there is an auxiliary weight 43 a, asshown in FIG. 4, on said arm 42, and because of this auxiliary weight 43a the centrifugal force increases when the rotation weight 43 rotateswithin said body 2, while, as shown in FIG. 5, a balance weight 43 b isformed on the opposite end of said arm 42 over said rotator 41, whichhelps the rotation weight 41 to rotate so much better.

[0055] Meanwhile, as there are a number of suspension protrusion s 24formed on the inside of said rim 21 of said body 2, and as it is soarranged that these protuberances 24 slightly and softly rub againstsaid rotation weight 43 when the latter rotates, the user of theequipment 1 can feel the delicate friction of these when he exercisesswinging or flourishing the equipment 1.

[0056] When it is desired to adjust the rotating speed of said rotator41 of said rotation means 4 which rotates on said support axis 3 viasaid bearing B, a user needs only to turn, to one side, said cover 51 ofsaid decelerating means 5, fixed on either side of the center of saidbody 2, where said support axis 3 is fixed, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0057] When the cover 51 of said decelerating means 5 is turned to oneside, it 51 moves toward, or away from, the center of said body 2.

[0058] If the cover 51 is turned to move toward the center, pressure isapplied to said elastic member 52 fixed on its inside.

[0059] If the elastic member 52 is pressed, the roller 53 a of saidpresser 53 formed on the end of said elastic member 52 comes in closecontact with said rotator 41 of said rotation means 4 to decelerate therotation of said rotator 41.

[0060] The force of the friction which decelerates the rotation of saidrotator 41 depends upon how much or how far said cover 51 of saiddecelerating means 5 is turned, and as the pressure applied by thefriction from the close contact of said elastic member 52 and saidrotator 41 varies, this can be made use of for adjustment of therotation speed of said rotator 41.

[0061] FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment example of said arm 42, inwhich said arm 42 is divided in two parts but are joined together bysaid hinge 42 a, viz. the part extending from said rotator 41 to saidhinge 42 a and the other part extending from said hinge 42 a to theouter end, where the rotation weight is fixed, whereupon the part withthe rotation weight attached to rotates on said hinge 42 a when saidrotator 41 rotates.

[0062] Although only the preferable embodiment examples of the easilyportable discoid exercise equipment of the present invention weredescribed above, it is not to be construed to mean that the presentinvention shall be confined to these embodiment examples, but a numberof variations can be made on the bases, and within the range, of thepatent claims postulated, the detailed descriptions in thespecification, and the attached drawings, which all shall duly fallwithin the scope of the present invention.

[0063] As the easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the presentinvention makes it possible for persons to take aerobic exercisesholding it in both hands even in a limited space, it thereby helps theusers to maintain the right postures and good health.

[0064] As the easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the presentinvention is rendered capable of rotating the rotation weight[s] in thesame or alternating directions in various ways, the users can enjoyexercising for an extended time without easily getting tired or weariedof it.

[0065] The easily portable discoid exercise equipment of the presentinvention has effects of maximizing the benefits of stretching limbs andmuscles, because one can take light exercise holding it with a hand[s]and stretching the arms forward or bending them to right, left, up ordown, rotating the rotation weight[s] in repetition, thereby working themuscles of one's hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, chest, waist, and all.

What is claimed is:
 1. Portable discoid exercise equipment usingrotation weights, which comprises a body of hollow discoid; a supportaxis fixed to the center of said body; and a rotation means fixed tosaid support axis for rotation.
 2. The portable discoid exerciseequipment using rotation weights according to claim 1, which compriseshandles, for lifting the body, protruding symmetrically on the rim ofthe body.
 3. The portable discoid exercise equipment using rotationweights according to claim 1, wherein said rotation means, in two ormore units, are set apart at a certain interval from one another byspacers.
 4. The portable discoid exercise equipment using rotationweights according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said rotation means comprisesa rotator fixed to said support axis for rotation; an arm extending fromthe end of said rotator toward the rim of said body; and a rotationweight at the end of said arm, which rotates around the rim of said bodyalong with said rotator.
 5. The portable discoid exercise equipmentusing rotation weights according to claim 4, which comprises anauxiliary weight protruding at a certain portion of said arm having arotation weight at its end.
 6. The portable discoid exercise equipmentusing rotation weights according to claim 4, which comprises a balanceweight, protruding on the opposite side of said arm extending from therotator, to facilitate rotation of said rotation weight.
 7. The portablediscoid exercise equipment using rotation weights according to claim 4,which comprises a rotation weight on one end, which rotates around therim of the body, wherein on the other end the arm, which is fixed to therotator fixed to said support axis for rotation, is split into the sidewhich is fixed to the rotator and the side which is fixed to therotation weight; and said split arm is fixed with a hinge for rotation,thereby allowing rotation of the rotation weight along the center of thehinge when the rotator is rotating along the support axis.
 8. Theportable discoid exercise equipment using rotation weights according toclaim 4, which comprises a magnetic body fixed to the end of therespective rotation weight for attracting or repelling one another incase of two or more rotation weights.
 9. The portable discoid exerciseequipment using rotation weights according to claim 4, which comprises aball inserted inside the rotation weight, which moves inside therotation weight by shaking of the rotation weight.
 10. The portablediscoid exercise equipment using rotation weights according to claim 1,which comprises magnetic bodies inside the rim of the discoid body,which attract or repel a portion of the rotation means.
 11. The portablediscoid exercise equipment using rotation weights according to claim 1,which comprises a multiple of suspension protrusions inside the rim ofthe discoid body, which come in contact with a portion of the rotationmeans.
 12. The portable discoid exercise equipment using rotationweights according to claim 1, which comprises hand protectors of softmaterial on the outer rim of said discoid body, for alleviating fatigueon hands of a user when grasped with hands.
 13. The portable discoidexercise equipment using rotation weights according to claim 1, 2 or 12,which comprises a multiple of acupressure protrusions on the portiongrasped by hands of a user.
 14. The portable discoid exercise equipmentusing rotation weights according to claim 1, which comprises a rotationdecelerating means, for adjusting or decelerating the rotation power ofthe rotation means fixed to the support axis for rotation.
 15. Theportable discoid exercise equipment using rotation weights according toclaim 14, wherein said rotation decelerating means comprises a coverfixed to the body; an elastic member, fixed to the cover, extendingtoward the rotation means; and a presser, fixed to the end of saidelastic member, coming into close contact with a portion of the rotatingmeans.
 16. The portable discoid exercise equipment using rotationweights according to claim 15, wherein said presser comprises a rollerin the shape of a sphere, for allowing continuous rotation even if thepresser comes into close contact with the portion of the rotatingrotation means.
 17. The portable discoid exercise equipment usingrotation weights according to claim 1, wherein said body is of astreamlined shape for easy grasping by a user and for elegantappearance.